Search results for linked sources of information are associated with one or more predefined symbols or icons that indicate characteristics of the linked sites' contents. Site content ratings services and databases are co-opted to obtain additional site characteristic opinion, review results, and indicators. A search engine creates a set of characteristic factors associated with its index of web sites, and when providing a site reference as a result of a search operation, includes icons and symbols to indicate the characteristics to a user. Further sorting, filtering and searching according to the user's preferences may be performed.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for indicating characteristics of a plurality of linked sources of information comprising the steps of: performing an analysis of code content of each linked source of information to determine if portable language scripts are employed, if markup language include commands are employed, if embedded links spawn additional web browser frames, and if embedded links redirect a web browser; establishing characteristic factors for each linked source of information according to said analysis of said information; co-opting a plurality of content ratings services via an electronic communication interface selected from the group electronic data interchange protocol and structured query language protocol; responsive to determination of a discrepancy between one or more ratings services and said established characteristic factors, prompting a user to perform a supplemental analysis; responsive to input to from a user, updating said characteristic factors according to said supplemental analysis; providing a plurality of iconic symbols, each iconic symbol representing a characteristic factor; and responsive to a search engine query, producing a list of said linked sources, said list comprising one or more iconic symbols associated with each reference to said linked sources, said icons indicating one or more functional characteristics of said linked information selected from the group of characteristic factors of session tracking employed, third-party certified, subscription required, login required, password required, encryption employed, spawns additional browser frames, slow to load, deep-linked source, redirects access, and republishes information source.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of producing a list comprises producing a hypertext markup language list.
3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of producing a hypertext markup language list comprises providing “fly over” information for each iconic symbol.
4. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of producing a hyper text markup language list comprises providing a hyperlink to an explanation page for each iconic symbol.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: receiving a set of sort and filter preferences from a user; and producing a modified list of linked sources sorted and filtered according to said user preferences.
6. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of storing said sort and filter preferences for use in subsequent production of lists of linked sources.
7. A computer readable medium encoded with software for indicating characteristics of a plurality of linked sources of information, said software when executed by a networked server performing the steps of: performing an analysis of code content of each linked source of information to determine if portable language scripts are employed, if markup language include commands are employed, if embedded links spawn additional web browser frames, and if embedded links redirect a web browser; establishing characteristic factors for each linked source of information according to said analysis of said information; co-opting a plurality of content ratings services via an electronic communication interface selected from the group electronic data interchange protocol and structured query language protocol; responsive to determination of a discrepancy between one or more ratings services and said established characteristic factors, promoting a user to perform a supplemental analysis; responsive to input to from a user, updating said characteristic factors according to said supplemental analysis; providing a plurality of iconic symbols, each iconic symbol representing a characteristic factor; and responsive to a search engine query, producing a list of said linked sources, said list comprising one or more iconic symbols associated with each reference to said linked sources, said icons indicating one or more functional characteristics of said linked information selected from the group of characteristic factors of session tracking employed, third-party certified, subscription required, login required, password required, encryption employed, spawns additional browser frames, slow to load, deep-linked source, redirects access, and republishes information source.
8. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 7 wherein said software for producing a list comprises software for producing a hyper text markup language list.
9. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 8 wherein said software for producing a hypertext markup language list comprises software for providing “fly over” information for each iconic symbol.
10. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 8 wherein said software for producing a hyper text markup language list comprises software for providing a hyperlink to an explanation page for each iconic symbol.
11. The computer readable as set forth in claim 7 further comprising software for performing the steps of: receiving a set of sort and filter preferences from a user; and producing a modified list of linked sources sorted and filtered according to said user preferences.
12. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11 further comprising software for storing said sort and filter preferences for use in subsequent production of lists of linked sources.
13. A system for providing icon characteristic representations of content provided by linked servers, said system comprising: a first interface to one or more linked servers for retrieving content from said linked servers; a second interface to a plurality of co-opted ratings servers for retrieving ratings regarding content of said linked servers, said second interface being configured to communicate via a protocol selected from the group of electronic data interchange protocol and structured query language protocol; a code content analyzer adapted to analyze code content of each linked source of information to determine if portable language scripts are employed, if markup language include commands are employed, if embedded links spawn additional web browser frames, and if embedded links redirect a web browser; a user prompt to perform a supplemental analysis responsive to determination of a discrepancy between one or more ratings services and said established characteristic factors for a information source; updated characteristic factors according to said supplemental analysis responsive to input to from a user; a set of icons, each of which represents a content characteristic; and a linked server reference list generator adapted to analyze said linked server content via said first interface, to collect ratings from said co-opted ratings server via said second interface, and to produce a linked server reference list having one or more icons associated with each reference in said list, said icons indicating one or more functional characteristics of said linked information selected from the group of characteristic factors of session tracking employed, third-party certified, subscription required, login required, password required, encryption employed, spawns additional browser frames, slow to load, deep-linked source, redirects access, and republishes information source.
14. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first interface comprises an Internet interface.
15. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said second interface comprises an Internet interface.
16. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said icons comprise graphic web objects.
17. The system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said graphic web objects include fly-over information messages.
18. The system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said graphic web objects include hyperlinks to explanation messages.
19. The system as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a linked server reference list sorter and filter adapted to sort references and remove filtered references in said list by preferences established by a user.
20. The system as set forth in claim 19 further comprising a persistent user preference setting for use in sorting and filtering subsequent reference lists.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
June 27, 2002
January 3, 2006
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